Blind Date

A/N 1: This is and was always intended to be a short story, so please keep that in mind when critiquing my piece… It's a simple look into the lives of the Skywalker family, showing the love of a child for his mother, and how hurt caused can be made right.

A/N 2: Star Wars and all its characters/places/etc… belong to Lucasfilm.

Chapter One: Mommy's Past

Mara Jade Skywalker wandered slowly home from the last meeting of the day. All around her people were in various stages of preparation for Endor Days, the galaxy's big celebration of the fall of the Empire.

Women were emerging at random from dress boutiques with long bags or large boxes no doubt containing their evening wear for the grand occasion's formal night. Mara passed a tuxedo shop where a group of young men were trying on their suits.

One of them noticed her stare and winked playfully.

Mara wrinkled her nose in disgust, glaring back at him. The young man flinched noticeably, and turned away.

She sighed and resumed her walk. A few kilometers from the fancy dress shops Mara came to a costume shop where a bustling crowd was scrounging through piles of gear for the two-day celebration's dress-up party.

She shook her head sadly, wondering if she was the only inhabitant on Coruscant who detested the celebration. Mara came to a small park that sat off the walkway a little, and veered towards it. She seated herself in the far corner, under the sole tree.

Settling tiredly to the ground, Mara blew out a breath.

Endor Days was a great celebration, Mara knew… for those who hadn't been the Emperor's most trusted assassin. The New Republic had created the holiday in remembrance of the hard won victory of the Rebel Alliance. It was also a time to remember those who had given their lives for that freedom.

So Mara could appreciate that so many of the galaxy's inhabitants readily accepted the special day. But she couldn't help but wonder why nobody ever thought of the men and women who'd fought on the Empire's side, and not of their own choice. Not every stormtrooper was an evil man fighting to protect a corrupt Emperor.

Many of those stormtroopers had been good men, simply trying to provide a safe living for their families. More personally for Mara, Endor Days commemorated the day her life had gone to hell. Mara's life had been fulfilling, purposeful, and…

And a lie. Mara thought bitterly.

Mara closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the trunk, trying to keep those sullen memories from engulfing her.

00000

Luke Skywalker busied himself with preparing dinner while Ben played in his room. He caught a glimpse of the current news story on the HoloNet, and saw a group of party-goers' already wearing their costumes for Endor Days' informal party.

Luke shook his head at the distasteful way one of them wore a Darth Vader mask, his rebreather… and only a black tunic and shorts underneath. Luke had never really cared for the holiday himself, but he didn't badmouth it either.

Endor Days had been created during a time of stress for the New Republic when the galaxy still had some healing to do after the Empire's fall. And it had worked far better than even the politicians had dreamed.

So much so that millions of people who had no clue what the war between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance had been like still celebrated the occasion as though it had happened yesterday. He knew they celebrated to poke fun at the hard times, but sometimes Luke wished that they could be more respectful.

"Daddy?"

Luke was drawn out of his reverie. "Yes Ben?"

"Can I ask you something?" Ben said gingerly.

Luke frowned at the boy's almost fearful demeanor. "Of course, Ben, you can ask me anything, anytime."

Ben bit his bottom lip in thought, and glanced toward the entrance to their apartment. His ten-year old son had never looked so sad, Luke thought. Finally, Ben came over to their home's small table and sat down. He looked up earnestly at Luke.

"Daddy, why is Mommy always sad when Endor Days comes?"

The question was the last thing Luke had expected to hear, and he had to take a moment to compose his thoughts. Luke of course knew why Mara hated the holiday, and he usually went out of his way to keep her comfortable during this hard time. But Luke was surprised that Ben had noticed, because Mara made it a point to keep up appearances for their son.

The fact that their son had noticed really worried Luke, because it meant that Mara must really be hurting this year.

Luke noticed that Ben was shifting nervously in his seat due to his father's silence. Luke took the food off of the heat, and sat down across from Ben.

"Ben, Mommy does not like Endor Days." Luke began charily.

"Why not?" Ben asked. "I thought it was a really happy day to remember the Emperor's death?"

Luke nodded. "It is. But for your mother, things were quite different."

Ben frowned. "What do you mean?"

Luke chose his next words very carefully. "Ben, you mother… well, she used to work for the Empire."

Ben's eyes went wide. "Oh."

He looked down at his hands in deep thought. Luke waited patiently, knowing Ben would speak when he was ready. Ben cocked his head to the side, and gave Luke a strange look.

"Does that make Mommy… bad?" he asked, looking as if the question were going to cause his father to explode.

"Absolutely not, Ben." Luke said gently, but firmly, trying to ease his child's fears. "She served a man and a cause she honestly thought were good, because that's how she grew up. She was taught to believe that the Empire was good, and when she found out the truth, she changed. She fought to correct her… mistakes."

Ben mulled that over, the fear slowly draining away to be replaced with the determination of a ten-year old boy.

"But it still makes her sad, because she remembers her sad times?" He asked.

Luke nodded. "Yes. She remembers so she can know not to do those things again. And she has more than made up for any past mistakes." Luke placed the full weight of his stare on Ben. "Ben, your mother is the best person I know. She may seem all tough and hard to hurt, but very deep down, she is a kind woman with a deep heart."

Luke chuckled as a thought occurred to him. "But don't tell her I said that, because she'll vape me where I sit."

Ben smiled at his father's quip for a moment, and then sobered.

"Dad…" again with the hesitant tone Ben spoke. "Can I…" he looked up, fiercely determined. "I want to do something for Mommy. I want to make her not so sad."

Ben looked down for a moment, and then back at Luke.

"Daddy, will you help me, please?"

Luke felt a lump form in his throat at the tender heart of his son. "Of course, whatever you want to do, Ben." He managed to say without choking.

00000

When Mara finally walked through the door to the Skywalker apartment, it was all dark except for one light in the kitchen. Frowning, Mara walked over and spotted a plate on the table with a little note beside it.

My Dearest Mara,

Ben and I went out for a guy's night. I'm sorry we aren't home to say hello, but we did leave you some dinner. Why don't you take advantage of the quiet to soak in the tub, or get a little extra rest? Ben and I will probably be out late.

All my love, forever,

Luke.

Mara felt unexpected tears well up in her eyes. She had been so looking forward to coming home to Luke's warm embrace, and to Ben's sweet face.

When did I get so sappy? Mara asked herself sardonically, as she wiped away the tears.

She reached for the plate to put it in the warmer and discovered that it was in fact still warm. She glanced at the note, but there was no time-stamp on it.

They must have just left.

Mara ate her meal in silence, doing her best to keep her bad mood from engulfing her entirely. When she finished, she took Luke's advice and soaked in the tub for a while, relishing in the luxury of a steaming bath.

She felt herself getting sleepy and exited the tub to get ready for bed.